Recently, I posted on my facebook status that I fell like I should have been around in the 60's because I've got a ton of fight in me to be something great! Little did I know the 60's lived on my block.
A few days ago I was walking my daughters home from school and my 7 year old said, "daddy look, that looks like the men in the black history books". I immediately asked her what she was talking about. Then she pointed at the image below. I had to hit the instant replay button on the remote in my head. For those that don't know, I grew up in the south so you can only imagine the levity of the observation after I made eye contact with what she was referring to.
Unknowingly, I immediately felt the residual emotional effects of the stories of my great-grandparents, grandparents and parents. Part of me wanted to cut it down and part of me wanted to teach my daughters a history lesson. It was one of those times in life where I was so in shock that did none of the above. I've been stuck on pause for a few days. I've sought the advice of some of my most rational friends, I've prayed, I've studied and I've even done more homework on the image. Needless to say I was still at square one until earlier today.
As I jogged past the insensitive image I saw a woman of color getting out of a car. I believe she noticed the question mark look in my eyes as I gazed at the stuffed lynched man. She stopped me and said, "young man, don't you pay that no mind that's just "Poor Taste". I said Ms. if you don't mind me asking, how old are you? she said, "89 baby", now finish your run. That quiet subtle statement was the lesson that I needed to teach my children how to respond to pure ignorance. She gave me a two way street to be Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or Stokley Carmichael. The residual scars of the past are for me to empower, educate, motivate and denounce all fear of success to my children and those alike. So tomorrow I will empower my children to not indulge in "Poor Taste". I challenge you to do the same.
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Melson